Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealcher’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Duealcher’, characterized by its semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large cherry red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEALCHER’.

CROSS REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Calibrachoa Plant Named ‘DUEALKOCHER’.

Applicant: Tobias Dümmen.

Filed: Concurrently with this application, U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,098.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duealcher’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Calibrachoa plants with large attractive flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2010 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-0840-002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-6445-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duealcher’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duealcher’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright to outwardly spreading to trailing and decumbent         plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large cherry red-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Calibrachoa are more vigorous than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower form as plants of the male parent selection have double-type flowers. In addition, plants of the new Calibrachoa flower earlier than plants of the male parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of Calibrachoa ‘Duealkocher’, filed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,098 concurrently with this application. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of ‘Duealkocher’ in plant habit as plants of the new Calibrachoa are not as compact as plants of ‘Duealkocher’.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of Calibrachoa sp. ‘Cal Britreeda’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,828. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed primarily from plants of ‘Cal Britreeda’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more compact than plants         of ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had shorter internodes than         plants of ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger leaves than plants         of ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Cal Britreeda’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger sepals than plants         of ‘Cal Britreeda’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph is a top perspective view of a typical flowering branch of ‘Duealcher’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany under cultural practices typical of commercial Calibrachoa production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Rooted young plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Duealcher’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-0840-002, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number A09-6445-002, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures of 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Semi-upright to outwardly spreading             to trailing and decumbent plant habit; freely branching             habit with about 35 to 40 lateral branches developing per             plant; pinching enhances branching; vigorous growth habit;             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 18 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 49 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 27.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading to trailing             and decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             137C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 137C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.2 mm. Diameter: About 1.9 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 180 to 200 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright or outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about four             to five weeks after planting; plants flower continuously             from the spring throughout the summer in Germany.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 4.7 mm.             Shape: Elongated oblong. Color: Close to 197C and 145B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.7 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.2 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Mostly rounded. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:             Close to 53A. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to             186A. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53B;             venation, close to 53A; color becoming closer to 179B with             development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to             186B; venation, close to 186A. Throat: Close to 153A;             venation, close to 79B. Tube: Close to 145A; venation, close             to 79B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Star-shaped calyx with five sepals;             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 1.9 cm. Sepal             width: About 4.6 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 137C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Six per flower.             Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament color: Close to 145B.             Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 0.5 mm to             1 mm. Anther color: Close to 3C. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to 15C. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length: About             8 mm. Style color: Close to 144B. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal.             Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to 144B.             Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Duealcher’ as illustrated and described. 